Joseph Cotten was born on May 15, 1905 in Petersburg, Virginia. In 1930, he started his acting career on Broadway. In 1937, he joined Orson Welles' Mercury Theater. After starring in several Mercury Theater productions, he went back to Broadway in 1939. But in 1941, he got his first real taste of Hollywood when he co-starred in a movie with his old friend, Orson Welles. The film was "Citizen Kane." In this, Joseph played Kane's friend, Jed Leland. After "Kane," Orson and Joseph would continue to star in several movies together for years.
In 1942, Joseph starred as Eugene Morgan in "The Magnificent Ambersons", a Welles' production. In 1946, Orson was the narrator in "Duel in the Sun", which also starred Joseph as Jesse McCanles. In 1949, Joseph and Orson were once again co-stars in "The Third Man." Welles played Harry Lime, and Joseph played his friend, Holly Martins. In 1952, Joseph had a small part in Orson's "The Tragedy of Othello." Finally, in 1958, Joseph had a small role in Orson's "Touch of Evil."
But Orson Welles wasn't the only person to be in many movies with Joseph. Jennifer Jones was also in many movies with Joseph.
In 1944, Jennifer and Joseph were first paired together in "Since You Went Away." In 1945, they were again co-stars in one of my favorite movies, "Love Letters", also starring Gladys Cooper. I think this is one of Joseph's best performances, and so is the next movie with Jennifer and Joseph. It's 1946's "Duel in the Sun." In 1948, they were together for the last time in "Portrait of Jennie." Personally, I think Joseph and the beautiful Jennifer made a striking couple.
Jennifer and Joseph in "Love Letters."
Jennifer, Joseph, and Cecil Kellaway in "Love Letters."
Joseph and Gregory Peck in "Duel in the Sun."
Jennifer and Joseph's final movie together was 1948's "Portrait of Jennie", in which Joseph plays Eben Adams, the struggling artist who falls in love with mysterious Jennie Appleton (Jennifer).
Probably my favorite Cotten movie is 1943's "Shadow Of a Doubt". This Hitchcock thriller also stars Teresa Wright. Joseph plays evil Uncle Charlie, "The Merry Widow Murderer" who eventually tries to kill his niece, young Charlie (Teresa Wright). I think Joseph is great in this movie...very spooky!
In 1953, Joseph starred with Marilyn Monroe in the thriller, "Niagara". Joseph played George Loomis, who kills his wife (Marilyn). In 1964, Joseph starred along with Bette Davis and Olivia De Havilland in "Hush...Hush, Sweet Charlotte", which is one of my sister Mary's favorite movies. Joseph made a few more films including some foreign films, and always stayed active in Hollywood until his death in 1994.
Links to other sites on the Web
Meredy's Place
Elizabeth's Orson Welles Page
Elizabeth's Anne Baxter Page
Elizabeth's Jennifer Jones Page
Elizabeth's Gladys Cooper Page
Love Letters
I would like to thank Meredy at the link above for her awesome pictures!!~ I encourage you to check out her great page. Thanks, Meredy!
I also thank Phillip Oliver for some more great pictures, this time the "Love Letters" picture number 2. Please visit his "Jennifer Jones" page. . . there is a link provided on my Jennifer Jones page 2. Thanks again Phillip!~
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